ARTICLES ABOUT FATHER BY DATE - PAGE 3

When your child goes away to college, counselors and professors warn parents to avoid becoming the "H" word. Helicopter. As in "helicopter parents. " As in, don't hover over your child. They made it to college, and they'll be fine without you. Get very lost for a few years, if that's possible. I heard that when I went on college tours at Florida State and Central Florida and other schools in and out of state. It's actually good advice, even if it is a little hard to follow.

Howard Silken became an inventor at the age of 7. Opening matchboxes was a source of endless frustration for his mother, a smoker whose hands shook from arthritis. After learning more bad words "than you can imagine" when the matches kept falling to the floor, the little boy decided there had to be a way to help his frustrated mother. And he found one: a flip-top for the matchbox. That was 87 years ago. Silken, now white-haired and 94, is still tinkering, still dropping by the wood shop of his Boca Raton retirement home, St. Andrew's Estates, to toil away on his inventions.

Happy Father's Day. Show Big Daddy he's No. 1 and celebrate in South Florida style with freebies, treats, eats and fun things to do just for Dad on Sunday. Fun in the sun Bonnet House: Dads get in free with one paid admission from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort Lauderdale museum and gardens. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $16 kids 6-12 and free for 5 and under; gardens only is $10. The narrated tram is a fun way to see the lovely sites on the property.

My mother pursued two masters degrees and a PhD while I was growing up. I had no idea. She was in school a few nights a week, but I didn't notice because my Dad and I were busy. My Dad took me to music lessons, to play dates and to dinners. Not once did he ever say, "Your mom is busy tonight so let's do something. " I thought — and still believe — "My dad just loves spending time with me," so it never occurred to me to ask, "Where is mom?" My dad was my buddy. Even though he now lives in Boynton Beach and I live in Washington D.C., he still is. My favorite night of the week was Tuesday.

A reprint of my Sunday Father's Day column: Dear Natalia, It's been a few years since I've written, but the mood struck because you keep growing so fast and I'm feeling sentimental this week. Milestones and time-warp travel have a way of doing that. We are in Brooklyn for Father's Day, a father-daughter pilgrimage that has become an annual tradition. I loved the look on your face when I pointed out the playground at P.S. 236, my elementary school, and said, "This is where I used to run around after lunch when I was your age. " I turn 48 on Tuesday.

The tradition of annually honoring fathers began at the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910, when Sonora Dodd, the daughter of a single father and Civil War veteran, created the first Father's Day celebration. On Sunday, the YMCA of Broward County will join the nation in celebrating Father's Day and recognizing the impact that fathers and adult male role models make in children's lives. One out of three children lives in a home without their biological father, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Dear Natalia, It's been a few years since I've written, but the mood struck because you keep growing so fast and I'm feeling sentimental this week. Milestones and time-warp travel have a way of doing that. We are in Brooklyn for Father's Day, a father-daughter pilgrimage that has become an annual tradition. I loved the look on your face when I pointed out the playground at P.S. 236, my elementary school, and said, "This is where I used to run around after lunch when I was your age. " I turn 48 on Tuesday.

For Aaron Lamm and Anthony Fiorelli, every day is Father's Day. After almost two decades of trying, the two dads have the family they had always dreamed of and they couldn't be happier that their four daughters - 4-year-old Lily and 15-month-old triplets Stella, Polly and Lucy - have taken over the house. "We count our blessings," said Fiorelli, 51, whom Lily calls "Daddy with no hair. " Lamm, 42, is "Daddy with hair. " "I can't ask her to call him Pop," said Fiorelli. "It is so important for us to finally be called Dad or Daddy.

For a Father's Day far away from ties, Gulfstream Park has gifts of a different breed for horse racing fans. For a $75 donation to the track's Thoroughbred Aftercare program, dad can watch announcer Larry Collmus call a race during the winter season. For a $400 donation, the track is offering a VIP package for $400 that includes a private tour of the backstretch and jockey's room, lunch in the Ten Palms restaurant, a named race and winner's circle presentation. The Ten Palms will serve brunch on Sunday for $35. Call 954-455-6760 for reservations.

Happy Freebie Friday! Father's Day is Sunday and I have a huge roundup of freebies, dining deals and gifts for Dad, including $10 off at JC Penney and $20 at Macy's. Plus, you can get a free Starbucks gift card, too. Like Doreen's Deals on Facebook ; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts . Freebies Free $5 Starbucks gift card Freebies and dining deals for Dad on Father's Day Free $50 ScoreBig.com event ticket with purchase at JC Penney Free unlimited music for Amazon Prime members Free $10.99 BBQ Ribs for Dad at Boston Market on Sunday Free appetizer or dessert with two entrees at Olive Garden ; expires June 25 Free sandwich at Einstein Bros.